Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-18

and was deep IN the game again. a
few minutes later there was a Jackpot.
Hawkins and the gambler opposite
went in. They raised each other till
there were several thousand dollars in
it. At last they laid down their hands.
Hawkins had four kings, but the gam
bier had the four aces, and reached fol
the money and chips.
Il reckon that was all fair, Parson?''
said Hawkins, as he looked across thl
! table at his opponent.
Eye bet it was, Buck. ye know
never play no other way" replied the
gambler. showing some signs Of nerv'
business.
"I'm glad of it," s:ad Hawkins, pick.
ing up his revolver and holding it care.
lessly. rye all know what I'd do if
thought it wasn't"
"Shoot, of course. Buck, that would
be all right-but Its squar'. an ye can
bet on it,
"All right" and Hawkins arose from
the table and went out saw nothing
more of him that night.
The next day he approached me on
deck and talked few minutes. He
guessed that l had run away from
home and advised me to return. saying
that it was no country for boys.
could scarcely conceive, as he gave me
this advice, which knew to be good,
that he had without doubt killed a
dozen men-perhaps more. But it was
\ fact.
Hawkins left the boat at Sioux City
and went to YanktOn. The next five
or six weeks spent in the vicinity OF
that place working on various farms.
1 did not get very high wages, but ]
managed to make my living: After
some time l hired out to q man
who was driving some stock up the
river to the Yankton Indian Agency.
There were some two or three hundred
head and there were several men along
with them. To make this trip had
invested in pony. We arrived at the
agency after several days. and finding
that my services would be no longer
required / started to return on my
pony. Twas opposite Niobrara, Neo..
and back some four or five miles from
the river. when / met two men on
horseback. each leading string of
five or six horses. Some of the ones
which were being led were wild and
were giving the men considerable
trouble. They hailed me, and after.
as l thought, asking an unnecessary
lot of questions concerning who was,
where l came from and where l was
going, one of them said:
I'm sheriff down in Newbrasky an
my podner here is dcp'ty. We've got
some bosses here that was stole that
we're takin' back. They don't lead
very well, an I'll give you FIVE dollars
to 60 with us this afternoon and to-
morrer an help u.s.
"All right" said; "whcre are you
going to CROSSE"
down at Choteau creek"
Il should think there were better
''That's the best crossin' round
here-we know this country like a
book"
l saw that no information was
wanted from me, SO said no more and
went along with them. l soon saw
that they were remarkably well ac-
quainted with the country, and APP
peared to rather avoid what few roads
and trails there were than otherwise.
We soon struck ChOteau creek and
started down it, frequently crossing
from one side to the other. I noticed
that the men were both heavily armed,
and appeared rather nervous and in
considerable of hurry. 1 thought
nothing of this. however. as nearly
everybody went armed, officers espc-
:. and it was likely they wanted to
make the crossing that night. and pos
sibly they feared that the thieves
might attempt to recover the stock.
We came in sight of the river just aft
er shutdown. We passed through sew
eral groves of large cottonwood trees
and then turned up the river.
DO you mind riding all night?"
asked the sheriff
mo" replied.
I'll make it couple o. dollars ex-
ira. We want o cross up here and get
cross the pint of the reservation an
over to Red Bird on the Niobrara fore
We stop"
go ahead. I'll stay with you"
A little later l heard the sound of
hoofs behind US This gave me no un-
easiness. but the moment it struck the
ears of my companions they took their
Winchesters from where they were fas-
tened on the saddle and began to look
back intently. Amoment later dozen
horsemaR came around the point of Il
bluff at full sped. Several of the party
fired at us. My companions returned
the shots and dashed away. leaving the
horses they were leading. had no
doubt that the thieves from whom they
had recovered the horses were in pur-
suit, so followed as fast as could. We
were in an open place near the river
and headed for some cottonwoods about
a quarter of mile distant. Our horses
were on the run. and though. when l
glanced back, saw that our pursuers